Latching mechanism for hopper doors



J'ne 30, 1931. K.` .1. ToBlN E'r AL LATCHING MECHANISM FOR HOPPER DOORS 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed April 29'. 1929 l x H HIIIIIIIIIIIIIH." mu LH! June 30, 1931.

K. J. TOBIN ET AL LATCHING MECHANISM FOR HOPPER DOORS Filed April 29, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MENA/ETH J 755m/ Patented June 30, 1931 UNITED STA-TES fP-ATE'raoFFica RENNETII J. ToBIN AIIDAXEL 'W'AsBERG, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS; AssIGNons 'ro CAMEL COMPANY, or- CHICAGO, ILLIIvoIs, A coI;Foral-armarv or ILLINOIS LTCHING MECHANISD FOR HOPPER DOORS Application med April as, 1929. seriai No-35asoe.

This invention relates to latching mechanism for hopper drop doors.

In many instances, the hoppers on cars are divided at the center sill of the car, and in the past it has been the practice to span the gap by some reinforcing arrangement which causes both doors to open and close together. This latching arrangement was very heavy and clumsy and more or less difficult to operate, so that it did not give complete satisfaction.

According to this invention, the hopper doors are securely latched by means that draw the hopper doors into tight engagement with the wall of the hopper, and at the same time ties the end walls of the hopper together.`

The invention also contemplates means for securing the latching mechanism in operative position against working loose or accidental operation.

The invention comprises the novel structure and combination of parts hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of this invention and in which similar reference numerals refer to similar features in the different views: y

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a hopper car illustrating one of the hoppers.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken upon the line II-II of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational view showing parts in section taken upon the line III-III of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged elevational view of one of the hoppers.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken upon the line V--V of Figure 4.

As shown on the drawings:

In the drawings, there are shown fragments of a hopper car which is divided at f its central sill 1 into two hoppers 2 and 3 respectively. These hoppers are closed by hinged doors, which are maintained in closed position according to this invention. The doors which are indicated by the reference numeral 4 are hinged at their upper ends by 5,0 hinges 5. Only one of these doors is fully illustratech-sincethe two. are similar all l respects.

Adjacent the lower margin ofthe .door-4i,

there. is pivoted'a latching bar l6. It will `be notedthat this baris pivoted to the door by Y means of a pivot-pin kf? which .extendsthrough a. casting 8 which is securedsubstantially centrally ofthe door.v` `This casting is provided with a passage or opening'4 therethrough .to rece-ive the latch bar VV6 and to allow the same to freelyv swingupon its pivot.- The Y` latch bar-itself may Vassume any convenient form.v In the present instance, it is illus- 4trated ets-,consisting `of a Z-bar. 4Upon the ends of the hopper are secured suitable` keepers 10, which have flaring edgeslOa asshown Vin Figure 2, in order to vdraw the ends of the Vlatch bar inwardly. y Y, l f Y It nwill beonoted that the flaring edges 10a are upon inwardly directedl flanges which .7 form Vlips 10b as clearly shown inFigure 2.

The latch bar. 6 is-provided with laterally pro- -jecting lips 6a` upon its ends which .engage behind the 'lips lQbfor tyingthe vends of the hopper together. A-

` The aforementioned casting Sis provided with an arm upon which acam' lever y12'is piv- `oted .intermediate itsendS. The lower end of the cam lever is curved Aso thatfwhen it is swung intojthe position'shown `in Figure 4,

bar 6 vat a point beyond Vdead center. The curved end of the lever will also engage the lcasting 8 and prevent the lever from swinging in a clockwise direction. Tothis end the.

being `swung until the cam lever l2is swung -into the dotted` line position shown in.Fig-

ure 3. J Y

Inthe operation lof .the foregoing mechanism, the operator will fiirst swing the lever j 12 into dotted line position as shown in Figure 8 when itis desired to open the hopper` door. After this has been done, the operator will swing the bar 6 in an anti-clockwise direction to remove `thev ends from beneath the flanges .onthekeeper-'l This movement of the latch f VVso l :the lower end thereof will engage the latch i i bar will unlatch the door and it may be readily opened. In closing the door, the operator will swing the door forwardly while the bar 6 is in the dotted line position shown in F igure 3. When the door is in substantially closed position the operator will swing the latch bar 6 into horizontal position to-engage the ends thereof under the keeper 10. After this is done, the cam lever l2 may be swung into the position shown in Figure l for locking or securing the latch bar 6' against accidental swinging movement. Y

This locking mechanism is very simple in structure and operation and effectively maintains the door in closed position. At the same time the latch bar securely ties the ends of the hopper together. On account of the cam lever 12 which irmly latched the bar 6 in horizontal position, it is impossible for the same to work loose and allow the door` to open.

Ve claim as our invention: l

l. In a car having a hopper, a door for closing said hopper, a swingable latch bar pivoted intermediate its endsto said door, keepers secured to the ends of the hopper for receiving the ends of,V the latch bar, said keepers and latch bar having overlapping parts Y to tie the ends of the hopper together and a camlever pivoted to said door for engaging said latch bar for maintaining the same in horizontal position.

2'. In a car having a hopper, a doorl hinged to said hopper, a castingsecured centrally of the lower margin of, saidv door, a latch: bar pivoted intermediate its ends to saidl casting, keepers upon the ends ofthe hopper for receiving the ends of said latch bar, a cam lever pivotedj tosaid casting for engaging the latch bar and securing the saine in door closing position.

3. In a car having a hopper, a door hinged Vto one sid'e of said hopper, keepers upon the ends of'said hopper, a latch barpivoted intermediate its ends to said door and swingable for engaging4 behind saidkeepers, said keepers and latch bar having overlapping lips for preventing theend'softhe' hopper from spreading and a lever pivoted' to saidl door for engaging said latchgbar for maintaining the samein` door closing position.

4. Ina car having a hopper, a d'oor'hinged to one sideof said' hopper, keepers upon the ends offthe hopper, said keeperhaving over hanging lips with slopingA edges, a latch: bar piv'otedf tosaid' door intermediate its'endslfo'r engaging said keepers and having lipsfor engaging behind the overhanging lips of# said keepersandmeans for maintaining said latch bar in-'d'oorcl'osi-ng position.

5. In a car having a hopper, a doorfhinged to one sid'eofsaid hopper, keepersluponV-the ends-of thehopper, al'atch-bar, a=castin`ghav ing a passage therethrough secured t'o said door, a; pivot extending through said casting, latch bar andtdoorl for pivoting; said latch bar, said casting having a laterally extending arm, a cam lever pivoted to said arm and adapted for engaging said latch bar when the same has been swung beneath said keeper for maintaining the same in such position, said lever engaging said casting when said lever is swung into latching position.

In testimony'whereof We have hereunto subscribed our names at Chicago, Cook County, Illi'nois.

' KENNETH J. TOBIN.

AXEL WASBERG. 

